Professional and amateur MMA can now be legally hosted in Canada so long as appropriate local laws are passed. To this end other Canadian jurisdictions can take a page from British Columbia when it comes to regulating combat sports in the post Bill S-209 world. BC now has the clearest Province wide legal framework for … More BC Sets the Canadian Standard For Legal Pro/Am MMA Events
Yesterday it was announced that BC has legalized amateur MMA in addition to a host of other amateur combat sports. As the legality of combat sports vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction in Canada there is, at this stage, no set of unified rules in place for the sport. I have been in touch with … More BC Provisionally Adopts ABC’s Rules For Amateur MMA
The BC Government has just passed Order in Council 2013-342 which expands the BC Athletic Commissioner’s powers to regulate all amateur MMA, kickboxing, pankration and Muay Thai events. In addition to the BCAC’s powers to regulate pro boxing and MMA, they will apparently now also regulate “any amateur boxing that occurs at a professional boxing or … More BC Legalizes Amateur MMA and Other Non-IOC Combat Sports
As recently reported, it is rumored that the BC Government is considering regulating amateur boxing along with other combat sports on the programme of the IOC. Not all stakeholders are pleased with this development. Canadian Member of Parliament Murray Rankin is among those. Murray recently cautioned BC’s Minister of Sport about their rumored plans. … More Victoria MP Murray Rankin Cautions BC Government About Regulating Amateur Boxing and Wrestling
Changes are coming soon in the BC amateur MMA/combat sports landscape as a result of the Bill S-209 overhaul. I have been in touch with a few commissioners / stakeholders in the MMA community from different Provinces over the past month and there appears to be some hesitation on the government front hoping to “get … More Amateur MMA / Combat Sports in BC Headed for a Mixed Bag of Regulation?
As previously discussed, while there are a lot of amateur combat sports which are presently illegal in BC by operation of s. 83 of the Criminal Code, those amateur sports “on the programme of the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee ” are currently legal. These include Boxing, Taekwondo, Wresling and Judo. After bringing this … More BC Commission Confirms Amateur Boxing, Taekwondo, Wrestling and Judo Presently Legal
A further legal change in BC Combat Sports law is expected shortly as a result of Bill S-209 making amateur combat sports illegal in BC. Similar legislative shifts are likely also in the works throughout other Canadian jurisdictions. The BC Government confirms, through the BC Athletic Commissioner, that they are “actively working” on a legislative … More BC Government is “Actively Working” On Legislative Response to Bill S-209
At the end of the month BC’s Athletic Commissioner Act will be in force. Once in force all “professional” MMA and Boxing Events in BC will be regulated by the provincial commission with Vancouver and other local governments being given the ability to outlaw the sport with the passing of local bylaws. BC’s First Athletic … More “Ladies and Gentlemen, It’s Time!” BC’s Athletic Commission Coming Into Focus
Last Summer British Columbia passed the Athletic Commissioner Act which will create a commission to regulate “professional” MMA and other combat sports on a Province wide basis. Despite this there is still little certainty about exactly how professional contests will be regulated in BC because the Athletic Commissioner Act Regulations have not yet been passed. The Regulations … More BC’s Athletic Commission Regulations Expected to be “Established Soon”
Today the BC Government issued a press release announcing a COMMAND training course being set up in BC with a view towards the eventual certification of MMA judges under the Athletic Commissioner Act. As previously discussed, this legislation will regulate promoters, fighters and officials for professional MMA contests. The regulations under this legislation are still being worked out but … More BC Government Sets Up Training Course for MMA Judges
Combat Sports Law 